Here's what you should know: The band is QUITE tight. I realistically could not even get it to stretch to 31 in. If you're between sizes, choose your larger band size. In my pics you can see it gives me a much bigger bulge under the back band than most of my bras do, I may end up putting an extender on it for a while. As I expected since it's Panache and not Cleo, compared to Marcie it doesn't fit radically different but it is, as we say, "more bra." Here's a comparison pic: imgur.com/g1cVpdo. The gore and wings are ...higher, and it's a little taller in the cups, a little bit wider wires, probably closer to the cut of Floris but the fabric makes it very different--I'll talk about that in a sec. Even tho it was taller in the cup than my Marcie, I found it still worked for me even with short roots because it seems more closed on top. If Marcie/Floris didn't work for you because you're too FOB, I would say give this a shot.
The biggest change from any of the Panache/Cleo 3-part balconettes that have come before it is that the bottom section is made from a stiff reinforced (laminated?) type mesh. Instead of being made for shape, this one is made for total support. Those in small cup size might find the construction excessive for the amount of support they need. I'd speculate it could give some back pain relief to the J-K crowd cause the stronger fabric really lifts you from the root. The downside is that since it's stiffer it doesn't mold to the body as well, so it's a tad wrinkly, but it wouldn't be visible except under tight clothes (and I wouldn't wear this with a tight shirt anyway because of the lace). Unlike last year's Olivia whose fabric was so stretchy I thought it would only work for those with very firm and full breasts, this fabric is so stiff I would highly recommend it for those like me with very soft breasts who need a little help being shaped, or those with pendulous breasts who need a lot of lift.
The shape is markedly more pointy than the Marcie, at least on me as someone with somewhat conical breasts. As you can see in my pics the "peak" is apparent through clothing. I'm not bothered by this--especially because it gives A LOT of forward projection--but those who dislike a pointy shape might want to stay away, at least until we see how it looks on someone with rounder breasts.
As for its appearance it's absolutely lovely. They describe it as Pink/Grey but to be more specific it's like a dusty rose base with sort of bluish charcoal overlay. The upper section has lace on top of a folded over mesh section, like the top of the Tutti Rouge Sophia/Mae.
All in all, I'm really pleasantly surprised by this one! It's nice to see Panache introduce something different construction-wise because Panache/Freya/other big names seem to mostly stick too "if it ain't broke don't fix it," but the improved fabrication of this bra is a liiiitle step forward.
EDIT: After wearing it today, OW. I'd recommend even more strongly to size up in the band, as this still dug in everywhere even with an extender. The higher wings/gore/etc also made things worse. I probably wore it for way longer than I should have but I don't think I'll be wearing this as a full day bra again any time soon. x_x I should have taken pics of the red marks cause you could see the full construction of the bra all over me! And I know red marks aren't always bad, but these were ANGRY and chafe-y. :'( ouch. Read more 533 more words
Lovely, thank you for that review! I was hoping it was more open on top like the floris, because it is lovely. Not sure I'll try it or just stick w floris which is so perfect for me
dbmamaz I did think of you cuz I know you're a Floris lover! But if you need room on top, it might not work. :l
I was super interested in this bra. I don't think it will work for me based on your description, but it really is lovely. Thanks so much for a great review :)
Beautiful bra! It's my perfect fit as well. I have a hard time finding unpadded bras that gives me the same round shape and lift. I tried the 32FF - Panache » Envy Balconnet Bra (7285) but it gave me a weird torpedo shape becuase I couldn't fill out the top of the cup correctly. This bra has a shorter cup, if that makes sense. I'm FOB and full in the center, usually I have some spill-over in the middle. The gore in this bra is really high and the stretchy lace keeps me from quadboobing.
Jasmine has been recommended to me (very pendulous, very projected, VERY soft tissue, wide/low set, even to FoB - not sure about this one) numerous times. I can definitely see why, it is sturdy enough at the bottom of the cup to give a nice lift and hold up weight. Most importantly, it does all of this while remaining very comfortable. I can barely even feel the wires, they seem to be a great fit, and the gore tacks beautifully. This colourway is amazing, it looks so good! The lace is very soft, and somehow they've made it so it doesn't cut in and give me quadboob at ...the seam (a very common issue for me with stretch lace.. or any lace... or any seams in most bras I've tried so far).
However, I can't help but feel something about this fit is off. It looks fine in the photos, but when I look down or when I look in the mirror, I feel like it gives me major Madonna bullet bra pointy boobs. It is a problem I've been encountering a lot on this brascapade I've been on. After years of wearing moulded bras that squished my chest, maybe I just need to get used to this look. Read more 100 more words
The Jasmine will give a bullet shape if it's a mismatch to your shape. You don't have to get used to it if you don't like it! If you like Panache, there's a ton of other styles available.
So far I have gotten the bullet bra shape (in my perception, maybe it's really not and it just feels that way cause they stick out kind of) in nearly every bra I have tried on. I'm scared that at this point it's probably a 'me' problem than it is a problem with the bras :/ I felt the same with Panache Envy (in nude, if that makes a difference) in 34E, and in Freya Fancies Plunge (34F and 32FF). I'm completely out of ideas anymore...
I don't really see the bullet shape too much in the photos, how does it look under a shirt? Sometimes pointy is our natural shape, not all boobs are round.
I just uploaded two photos wearing a t-shirt over it.
Okay, I see what you are talking about. It looks like you have tall shallow roots, getting the upper part to be rounded is difficult. If you want a more rounded shape, Comexim's 3HC and Ewa Michalak's CHP will give you that shape. The upper portion will probably stay as a slope though, just based on my own experience with those bras.
Sadly padded bras don't get along with the girls at all (quad boob galore) no matter if I'm in the right size. If it has a hard edge, it will cut in. Oh well, the search continues.
This bra gave me bullet boob too, which I was sad about because it was a beautiful bra that I wanted to love.... I think it's a combination of projection and soft tissue that did it for me. It does look nice on you, but it does give a more naturally pointy shape rather than that super round look. Some people like that look...it's a matter of preference really.
Some half cups are unpadded, and you can make any unpadded Comexim into a 3HC. http://bra.pe/MHUp/
Ewa's half cups are open on top so might cut down on your quadding.
Wilderness1 I'm thinking along those lines too. The tissue is just too pliable and it doesn't sort of work with the bra to get that nice round look, just lets the bra completely shape it. At least that's what it felt like in Envy, and it feels like in Jasmine.
Wilderness1 I'm thinking along those lines too. The tissue is just too pliable and it doesn't sort of work with the bra to get that nice round look, just lets the bra completely shape it. At least that's what it felt like in Envy, and it feels like in Jasmine.
Hold up Sovavosi, they will make whatever I ask of them?
Hold up Sovavosi, they will make whatever I ask of them?
Also I am not sure why it's posting all my comments twice lol
Mostly! You put what you want in the comment box during checkout. Sometimes they won't do the alterations and they won't tell you. I haven't ordered from them in about a year so I don't know if they've gotten any better about this.
That is very interesting. I ordered their Comexim Tropical Garden Plunge Bra (191) but unfortunately it was a comically bad fit. The cups felt like they were too close to each other and I had a huge gap around the gore (which actually was tacking perfectly lol) but I was spilling out on the sides.
brasaremean I was the exact same boob size as you (though with different body composition, I suspect you are taller and leaner than me whereas I had more chubbiness on a smaller height and build) for a LONG time! But at every size I had this issue, except even more dramatic/obvious, with all of the Panache full cup or balconnet bras. If you like I can describe the issue with me and you can try to consider if this might have some relevance for you. (Also if you dig around in my profile to look at bras no longer owned etc. etc. you will see a lot of the bras that did work for me when I was around 32FF-ish, perhaps that will also give you a frame of reference to compare!) As far as I can tell, for me the incompatibility with Panache is due to the shape and angle of the upper portion of their cups: compared to the natural shape made by my center-full and projected soft boobs when they are supported, the Panache cup design tries to shape the breast into a fairly smooth, continuous, gentle curve from apex to top of breast root. The mismatch with me is double: first, Panache designs assume a lower apex than what my boobs effectively have in a bra, so the upper half ends up rather brutally smashed down (so strange-looking that the first time I tried a Panache, back in the late 1990s, I got a severe fit of giggles in the changing-room!) My boobs, when supported, just do not make that smooth gentle curve--they do not have tall roots so since it's a really projected, compact mass of breast tissue, at the top they curve sharply back towards my body and then it's just "finito"--there is no more breast tissue going upwards; in fact it ends a good 8-10cm below my clavicle, even though I have a super short torso with very little space on it overall. So, as a 32FF I was able to wear SOME of the (non Panache) UK balconnet or full cup styles that also make a closed-off shape at the top, but not many of them because they have to have a very high apex, a generous amount of space on the upper inner quadrant of the breast, and narrow-set straps. Most of the UK bras by 2010 and later had been redesigned (compared to the ones I used to buy in the 90s and early 2000s) to have more wide-spaced straps, to allow open necklines, and to stay on me they needed to be angled in and this created too much slack in the cup and a weird, unnatural shape.
Anyway this may or may not be relevant. I just thought I would describe the issues in case it can help you find a kind of bra design that would work better! If you do a fitting request with body measurements and so on that may help people give advice too.
wendybien Thank you so much for this writeup. You know, now that you mention it and this was something I noticed with Envy especially, when I would pull on the outer part of lace a little bit the shape was noticeably nicer. I'm no seamstress so that was as far as I got with seeing what would actually make the bra work. The top of the cups where they meet straps feels like it needs to be different for me. I will check out some of your bras and see what you have working. From what you describe we do have similar issues (body shape aside). I did learn my lesson with Panache here... and while I don't find the wires uncomfortable (quite contrary, they don't bother me at all), I think they may be adding to the overall issue. That being said, I didn't keep the Envy, but I am holding onto Jasmine. Just in case someday I need the pointy boob look, I will have one (secretly I'm in love with this colourway). I was thinking of making a fitting help request but I need to buy a tape measure first as mine seems to have gone completely missing.
I agree with Wilderness1 ... she and I have pretty close shape and size. I also can’t do Jasmine or Envy. My soft tissue just sinks into the cups like pudding. Just filling up whatever space there is, which usually is not all the way up because I lack the tissue on top to fill the rest of the cup properly.
Yeah, it seems like it's just a bra/tissue mismatch. Shame, Jasmine is a beautiful bra, I had high hopes.
I don't particularly think that this bra looks all pointy and madonna-esque to me, but we all have different opinions on that. But what I think you could do to help make it more rounded for youself, you could try lining the cup (top of the cup/lace portion, using light hand stiching you can play with it) with a much firmer fabric and also moving the straps in more towards the center of the breast. I think this would help with a rounded profile.
I may be completely off with this recommendation, but you may want to look for a very FULL CUP bra that is non-padded, meaning it would literally encase the entire breast with supportive fabric. Similar to my 30DD - Claudette » Paramour Underwire Bra (101015008) . Though you may feel a bit squished in it like I do, especially since you are so very projected.
LeProfessor I actually prefer fuller cup bras as I feel like I'm spilling out of anything less. Unfortunately most of them have rigid edges that cut into my tissue but it's something I'm used to. Does Love Claudette no longer exist? I remember ages ago seeing their bras on ASOS and ogling them, but now I can't even find the website.
Yes brasaremean Claudette is a defunt brand. Sadly so. They did so well while they were in france, but when they moved to California they started creating very different, very wide & shallow bra's compared to their previous nicely narrow, slightly projected bra's. I've tried almost all of their styles and have maybe 3 more that I need to get my hands on. XD I pointed to the paloma I have because generally speaking I also have the problem with full cups rigid edges cutting in, but since the paloma literally wraps around the breast, the cups like settle on the rib/sternum and hold the breast within instead of settling on any breast tissue. Which would technically stop all cutting in. Albeit I still have some in the paloma because the gore is too wide. If the gore were narrow enough the cup edges would rest on sternum instead of breast as the outside of the cup does. I do know this isn't always possible depending upon breast shape and how much surface area the tissue takes up. But I thought it would be worth mentioning and hopefully I am making some shred of sense! XD
Yup you're making total sense. I found a cheapo one in 32FF (red one) so we shall see when I get it.
Please excuse my dummyness here. I kept saying the "Paloma" bra, but I meant the "Paramour" bra. XD. I need to try the Paloma, it's not quite the full coverage of the Paramour and I would not recommend the Paloma for you.
Yes I figured it out ;) don't worry. I did order the Paramour so fingers crossed. I also found the fishnet scoop in that beautiful baby blue (I wanted it so bad when it was on ASOS) and got that too even though it doesn't look good for me at all but I couldn't help myself. If anything it looks comfy enough to wear around the house.
Picked this bra up at Nordstrom, and I have got to come right out and say it - I love this bra!! So much so that I am getting my hands on the plunge version, too.
The bra, while being full coverage, looks remarkably delicate and light. This is due to the fact that it's pretty much entirely lace, with the top panel being stretchy - perfect!
The fit is really good on me, with the band sitting quite snug (it took me a little while to get used to it) on the loosest hook, leaving me feeling secure and comfortable. My only issue is with the bit of ...elastic/lace across the band below the cups, which does not like to lay flat, tending to roll when I'm wearing the bra. If it rolls out, it's fine, but occasionally it rolls under and pinches my skin underneath it. This is definitely not a deal breaker, however, as I just make sure it's rolled out when I put it on.
This bra gives me a very natural shape, but it is very uplifted as well - I seriously can't complain. Even though I've been wearing molded bras for a long time, getting used to this shape took no time at all and I love it under most clothes! Read more 108 more words
Bra is great for my root width! First bra I've found that doesn't extend a couple of inches past where my boobs end. The projection lines up with what I need. However, the cups are almost 1.5" taller than my smaller boob (which has a height of 6" and a perimeter of 8.5" vs my left boob at 6.5" and 9") and 1.25" taller than my left boob. So, there's wrinkling and dimpling at the top of the bra and it's visible underneath a shirt. The gore sits on my breast tissue at the center, not by a lot, but enough that the marks are very clearly on ...my inner boob, not my ribcage, which is in part because the gore height is double what I would consider the available space for a gore between my boobs. I do like spacer fabric though! I'm getting really annoyed with bras that are too tall and I wish I could cut off extra fabric at the top. I'm also not a fan of the bows everywhere (I don't like bows on straps I think they're unnecessary). Sidenote: I don't wear bras that often (shout out to stretchy crop tops & having self-supporting breasts), and my skin isn't usually compressed. Anyway, I think between that and my skin sensitivity it's giving me some mild hives down my torso. So that's awkward. Read more 118 more words
Have you tried the Panache Ardour bra? I also run into problem with cups being too tall with molded bras and I need shorter cup height, but I found the Ardour fit extremely well and cup height was perfect. Ardour is my favorite molded cup may be worth a try for you since u know u like Panache wire width?
Did you find the cup volume ok? I know how you feel with the short boobs.
Calluna the cup volume at the bottom is great, but up near the top it gaps far enough that it dimples underneath a t shirt, which sucks and defeats the point.
Hives? Yikes! Panache starches their bras very heavily and it takes a few washes to get all of that stuff out. Hopefully it's only because of those chemicals and it will go away.
Sovavosi thanks for the heads up! To be fair, allergens, in general, make the right side of my face itchy and I now break out in full-blown hives (these looked more like light chickenpox), but yeah, it's all around my IMF and I think because the bra came in contact with my torso w/ me sitting down or putting it on (like, having my back hunched over), my torso came into contact with it and that's what caused the hives. It takes a couple hours for them to go away but they don't hurt and I'm not itchy. I've had them appear on my hands with other stuff but I haven't figured out the trigger for those.
Very short roots, projected, slightly narrow, even, close-set breasts....
The immediate projection feels fabulous. However, as is a common occurrence, when there is enough space near the wire, the cup is too tall, wrinkles in the top, and bites my underarm. Although the volume is comfortable, the oversized height is not. Compared to the 32F, this dramatically reduces bounce. But, the height of the 32F fits better on my very short breasts.
Like the 32F, the wire channel is longer than the wire. When the wire is moved furthest from the gore, the gore height is 2.25" tall and 1" wide: still requires a substantial alteration to fit my close-set ...breasts.
I have not attempted alterations on a molded cup before. But, after 92 bra purchases and not one fitting, I'm quickly warming to the idea. Sigh. This will require major surgery https://d28qt14g3opchh.cloudfront.net/smileys/icon_wink.gif" alt=";-)" />
Great everyday bra with just enough padding to create a smooth surface. The padding is thinner than Comexim, Curvy Kate, and Ewa Michalak. Additionally, this model has good immediate projection and narrow-ish wires. The gore, however, requires "surgery" to fit close-set breasts.
After my old strapless (H&M) started to get too tall (and a bit too big in the band) I was looking for a new one. The boutique I visited did not have it in my usual 32F so I tried it in 32FF and it fits surprisingly well.
This is a lined, seamed, 3-piece cup which offers good projection for a strapless. It seems to work best for short-rooted people - I rarely see a lined bra that doesn't gape on top - and gives a slightly pointy shape. The band runs half a size tight - on the tighter side of comfortable for me but not painful. ...The "nude" color is just nude to the whitest of white people (I happen to be one), it has a slight yellow-ish tint and the exchangeable straps (fully adjustable) are even lighter in color.
The padding is slightly too much for my taste (the less the better - if unlined strapless bras existed I would buy them). And as usual, I cut off the bow in the middle as soon as the pictures were taken. Read more 76 more words
I'm having the worst luck with molded bras now I'm in my proper size. The Freya Deco is entirely the wrong shape, and the Porcelain series has always flattened me weirdly. The Curvy Kate Smoothie fits really well, save some weird bulging at the base of the cup, but hurts if I wear it more than a day in a row. The Panache sports bra really IS my go-to molded bra, but being a sports bra, it often shows under necklines. Which leads me to today.
I just moved to Maryland and am trying to find a good boutique in my area, already mourning Loretta's Intimates in Dallas. I ...checked out Store #1 today, and I had a sinking feeling when I noticed that most of the bras in their Panache and Freya section were 36 bands. This only worsened when I asked if they had a stash of 32 bands, and they pulled out a drawer full of beige. I do give them kudos for not suggesting that I was delusional about my band size and coming at me with a measuring tape. The poor lady helping me must have found every 32FF (3. There were 3.) and 34F (also some 32F and 34FFs, 15 bras total) in the store, and she seemed so bummed that more didn't work. When they offered to order things in for me, I felt a little like crying, either due to PMS, or due to the fact that you go to a store in order to AVOID ordering things that you may have to return.
Sorry, I'm really discouraged. I'm sure you know the feeling. To my 28-banded sisters, I want to give you all a big hug right now, because this must be your life x10.
Anyhow, this bra came the closest to fitting, and it was like my old days at Victoria's Secret, when the LEAST ill-fitting bra came home with me so the poor lady who just spent an hour trying to get me into a bra wouldn't feel totally bummed. I paid $78 for this Porcelain Grace. Unlike other Porcelain models, it didn't squish or flatten me, and it initially looked fine with the scoop-and-swoop still freshly done. Weirdly the band was loose as all get out. I usually have to go to a 34 in Panache, but the 32 was loose. No 30s were available, though.
Still, I bought it. I took it home and modeled it for my husband, whose immediate reaction was "Um." Bless him, he's gotten to be a handy bra-fitter over the past couple of years and noticed right off that I was having to hook it on the closest row, AND it was gapping at the top. I swooped, I scooped, but after a few minutes (more minutes than I'd taken in the Dressing Room of Despair) my tissue had settled, as it tends to do, and left a gap and ridge at the cup's top.
I'm pretty sure it's my shape and not the cup size. I'll be driving back to return this tomorrow. I really hope boutique #2 has more in my size. At least there aren't disappointed salesladies on the internet. Read more 420 more words
I feel you on molded bras. I really struggle with them as well. ... all those that you mentioned I had issues with. My best luck is actually with Chantelle rive gauche tshirt bra or Parfait Casey / Jeanie. Chantelle doesn't really come in my size or it would be my favorite. And I wear the same size in the Parfait as in Panache or Freya if that helps at all. I don't get as much top gapping, I actually have some cleavage and the wires aren't killing me. Have you tried either of those styles?
Oooh, I haven't tried those! Thanks! Eventually one will have to fit, right?
Wow, shops are so rough. The best shop near me is actually the closest, but they dont take returns AT ALL. The first girl I talked to there said they dont have her size and she has to order her bras on line. I think she was a 30 band. I'm a 32J, and they usually have about a half dozen, but nothing that I really like. Well, then again, I only really like panache Floris!
It seems so! Its been my motto at least
Sorry to hear you had such a sad experience, but your review is helpful. I don't know where in Maryland you are. Maybe you're close enough to go on a road trip to Sophisticated Pair in North Carolina?
" To my 28-banded sisters, I want to give you all a big hug right now, because this must be your life x10."
You make a good point here! I feel lucky I can wear 30 bands.
It looks like you may have short roots. If you get to Sophisticated Pair, Erica can have you try on your correct band sizes and some brands/models more accommodating of your shape. I'd email her ahead of time and link to your reviews so she can prepare.
You may want to mention the store's name so Bratabasers who have to have 28 and 30 bands can avoid it.
I've had this bra forever - it's still in use because the band was so firm to start with - as are the straps. It's pretty full coverage for a balconette, in a very lovely way. The fabric, as with all the Tangos, is totally firm and supportive. The lift on this bra isn't awesome. It contains more than it lifts. I don't wear it often, but I like it a lot. The wires are really wide and high, though. Not optimal for narrow frames and those requiring shorter wires at the underarm. (I'm short and short waisted and the side wires are too high...)
Finally, a Contour T-shirt bra with narrow wires and a deep cup! Yay!!!
* At first glance: this bra looks A Lot like the Wacoal Lace Affair... soft, smooth cups with contrasting re-embroidered lace on the band. * Stretchy microfiber cups: a thin, seamless edge on a sweetheart neckline. The edge has 'just a hint' of outward curve to it. Probably designed that way; not a defect. (Anyone without average upper fullness will be frustrated by the tendency to gape.) * Tall but closed cups at the top; a good choice for even/FoB shapes. * Firm wires: seem like they'll hold their shape. The stretch cups allow good depth at the wire. ..."Fair/better than most" depth at the gore: still not ideal for Close-Set and/or Center-Full. * The gore: at 2.75"tall x 1"wide is the absolute limit of what I have room for. The bottom of the gore is wide. * The band: snug/true to size. Narrow spaced 2x3 hooks & eyes. I'm sure the elastic will relax with more time wearing it. * The straps! Oh, the straps!!! Why Do So Many Manufacturers Insist On Using Wide-Set Straps?!? #1: will cut into the armpits/Tail of Spence, #2: will cause the cups to buckle where the cups & straps meet. That, in turn will cause the cups to gape with anything less than perfect posture! And of course, anything less than perfect self-supporting breasts will struggle with a good fit as well! * The redeeming factor of the closed edge is it minimizes the gaping sweetheart neckline and hardly shows under a T-shirt. Go figure! Read more 149 more words
I got this bra as a giveaway. I only checked the measurements before getting it, and while it was in transit I checked some reviews. After reading reviews, I was completely certain it wasn't going to fit and that it would look horrible. It is clearly made for people who are wide, shallow and full on top, and I'm the complete opposite. And that's why I was so surprised when it actually sort of worked. I've just tried it on, not worn it for a while. When I saw it, I was expecting it not to fit, but I fastened the band anyway, it is comfortable and fits, I ...was expecting it to be a little loose, since all the Panache bras I've tried with a 32 band were looser than other brands, and 30 bands are way too tight for me. The cups looked like giant plates (they honestly look huge, even compared to some 32GG and 30H bras I have), and they are extremely shallow near the wire. I need immediate projection, so I took that as a bad sign. Anyway, I pulled it on, scooped and swooped, moved a little to let my breasts settle, and it sort of fit. The cup is a bit small, if I had gotten it in 32G I thing it would have totally worked for me. My breast tissue just went up, to the most projected part of the cup, without wrinkling or bothering me or anything. I didn't expect that, since I thought it wasn't as soft as to adapt to any bra. But it happened. The low gore is the best part, it's so low it doesn't bother me. I had never seen a bra with such a low gore, and I love that. The thing is, I am very centre full, so this bra pushes my tissue even more to the centre. It definitely gives me a lot of cleavage, something I never get with other bras (and I don't really care about that anyway), it's impressive.
Even though it is a bit small, I'm still going to use it a bit with clothes that won't show the slight quad boobing. I will give it away if I don't loose boob weight in a few months or if I find something that fits me better. But it was a pleasant surprise. Read more 281 more words
My current favorite. Center tacks, high side wings, wide wires and a nice rounded profile. Fits *almost* perfectly on my projected, narrow set, FoB, tall/wide roots with sloped shoulders. I say *almost* as its not quite projected enough at the wire so there is a bit of wrinkling there. However, its not noticeable under clothing nor is it uncomfortable - I'll take what I can get. As with most Panache bras, the side wings are higher which is most welcome as I try to relocate my migrated tissue. Colors are lovely - I have the gray/magenta combo as well as the black/teal combo.
EDIT 6/5/17 After several months, I have determined that the center gore is wide and too high did my narrow set. Too many days of wanting to rip it off soon as I get home. I hope these marks go away in a few months! Will be listing soon.
I decided to finally try the Andorra because so many people love this bra. I've also read that people who do well in the Envy tend to have fit issues with Andorra; I fall into this category. While I don't love Envy (the bottom part of the gore is too wide), it fits me well overall and is comfortable. The Andorra was a total shape mismatch.
The cups are too shallow at the wire; this caused my breasts to be pushed up and caused quadding at the top even though I feel the volume on the bra was correct. The shallowness also caused me to have pointy, 50's ...torpedo shaped bustline. Not attractive.
Side note - I tried the Panache Clara this week as well and had the same issues with Clara as I did with Andorra; not surprising as they are based on the same cut.
Appearance wise, I thought this bra was nice. I had ordered the Andorra in the color 'Pearl'; it was very pretty & suited my skin tone.
Returning this one.
Edited to add: I have since been told Andorra runs small in the cup (which is what caused the torpedo-like shape). I will try again in a 32G. Read more 94 more words
I had high hopes for this bra but it fell short of my expectations.
The good: Nice firm band. Lace was not itchy. I LOVED the strap placement; I usually wear balcony bras which wider set straps, so the straps on the Clara were a nice change! I filled the cups well except at the bottom near the wire....
The bad: This bra is too shallow. The wires will not stay in my IMF and the cup collapses / wrinkles at the bottom.
The ugly: The horizontal seams show through any smooth-fabric top. The shape mismatch gives me pointy torpedo boobs. Also, something about the appearance of this bra I just do not care for. It feels - matronly somehow. I think the combination of the pointy shape plus horizontal seam reminds me of those bras from the 50's, lol.
This is the first bra I've tried (out of 3 in the right size) which is a reasonably good fit. It's also very pretty, with navy blue lace over a teal satin. The shape will likely be somewhat pointy without some upper fullness, I get a pleasing rounded shape with a slight peak. My breasts are soft with projected omega shape, narrow and short rooted but FOT, closeish set and centerfull. The band is a good fit on the loosest hook, the gore tacks althogh it's wider than my natural spacing. I have a tiny, tiny bit of quadboob which is hard to see even without a shirt. ...The wires are definitely too wide, though not uncomfortable. This does not have quite enough immediate depth, there's some wrinkling on the bottom of the cup and the bra slides down a tad out of my IMF over the day. All in it's a comfortable not-quite-perfect fit, and the bra is gorgeous - shimmery teal with navy lace. The embellishments on the band on sides and back was a tiny bit scratchy to me, and I dislike the fabric used to make the band - it has two thinnish bands of elastic on top and bottom of the band with mesh fabric in between, but the mesh fabric is stretchy and doesn't provide enough support so the weight is being taken mostly by the elastic. Edited to add: after several weeks of wear I've gotten used to the band, and find the bra quite comfortable. Edited again: I'm still wearing this at 3 months in as a work bra, EM are a better fit but this is comfortable and attractive and cooler than a padded bra in heat. Read more 178 more words
I swapped this 32FF for my 32F, and the fit difference is significant. It shows in the top of the cup, where the stretch lace is, which now gently encloses the top of my breasts rather than cutting in. This may also be because the entire cup is deeper at the apex and the wire, so my breasts have more room to settle into the cup; the 32F would gradually ride down out of my imf during the day. It is also wider, so the girls are probably heading sideways more also, although it doesn't push them outwards. I may bend the wires to get it more centered. I am fairly even with above average projection, and I thought I could continue to get away with the stretch lace on the smaller size, but it really does make a difference to size up. Also, the old one was the black animal print and the new one is the blue & pink watercolor. Sometimes black bras are smaller, I have read.
This is the type of bra that I just had to try, cause I've heard it mentioned so often. Unfortunately it didn't work for me. I usually try on a bra and gather my initial thoughts, then wash it to wear for at least a day before writing a review, but this bra was wrong straight out of the gate. Although the bra fit and looked lovely with its scalloped lace edging and great teal color, I did not like the way my breast looked in it. It lacked lift and shaping. It simply cradled my breast, and covered it like a hat would cover your head. No cleavage, no boosting, no shaping, it just simply covered my breast. My side profile was low and a bit pointy as well, and I really don't like that look on me. The more bras I try the more I realize the gem I've found in Cleo bras... Namely Lily, Lucy, and Melissa (review coming soon on Melissa).
The Cleo Lily worked amazing for me. The Andorra - not so much. And I found the fit got worse and worse the more I wore it! Have you tried the jasmine? Just because the Andorra doesn't work, doesn't rule out the jasmine - I know from experience! :)
Stinkmouse I did try the jasmine and have to write a review on that as well. It was better than the Andorra for sure, but I either need a bigger cup or something else, I don't know what. I read somewhere that it fits like a true Balconettes and it served up my boobies and left the tops uncovered, which is fine, but I found that I felt insecure in it just slightly. A lot of jiggle and bounce which isn't a deal breaker, but I think going up a cup would look better. It felt like it was too small in the cup and since the cups are so stretchy and flexible, my boobs hung lower too. I need to wear it agin to be sure about it.
I had a similar issue with the jasmine. It's really hard to tell if the cup is too small in that bra bc it is soooo stretchy. I had originally gotten a 34GG and for a while, I thought it fit. I was just fooling myself bc I loved the shape it provided! Then I tried the 34H and I thought that fit but I had to constantly adjust the girls. Now I have recently received a 32J and it seems to fit very well so far. That's not a sister size to the 32J I don't think - I think it's a full cup size larger. So that's like 4 cup sizes pretty much that all SEEMED like they fit to me... I think because of the stretch lace. Definitely try it in a larger cup size :)
Stinkmouse now that is interesting. I'm not even sure if it's worth trying a cup or two bigger. But if I can get it cheap, I'll try it out. I will keep an eye out for it 2nd hand. But the cups are stretchy indeed. Glad it's not just me, I was totally caught off guard about that and couldn't put my finger on why it just didn't seem to work as well as I had hoped.
I've been really happy with the bra. I hope you can get the size worked out. It gives a nice round shape. And such a departure from the huge goddess bras I spent my entire 20s in >.>
Very comfortable bra. I was measured as a 30G for a different bra, which fit pretty well, but this is far more comfortable. I have to close it on the tightest clasp, and still have a bit of room (it's secondhand though, so take that with a grain of salt), but it's the first bra I've owned that doesn't quadboob, is filled out completely, and isn't painfully tight. Love it!
My measurements for reference: snug 32, BTT 30.5, standing 38.5, leaning 41, lying 39. Pendulous, projected, narrowish shortish root, FOB/even (I think). I have a lot of outside fullness.
The first thing I have to say is that this bra is so very pretty! Lovely colour, the tone-on-tone embroidery on the fine mesh cups is gorgeous. There are even little embroidered dots on the strap. So, can't complain about that part at all.
Now, to business.
The fit is pretty decent. The band is comfortably snug on the loosest hooks. The gore tacks. The wires are about right. I can fill the cups pretty well except on my smaller ...side, where the lace flaps a bit near the gore. The lift and shape I get is quite good, with a slightly more natural shape in profile than I get from my Cleos. It's not remotely pointy, just not quite as round as some.
The bottom projection is just not quite as much as I need, so there is just a bit of wrinkling at the bottom of the cups. The cup on my larger side, however, stays in place, although the cup on my smaller side rides down a bit throughout the day. I think I get it, though. When the wires are right and the cup is properly filled, it stays in place. When there's a little extra space in the cup, it shifts around. I guess a bra that half fits is as much as any of us asymmetrical gals can ask for.
Also, I tend to get a little in-cup quad-boob, just like with my Cleos. Le sigh. Barely noticeable under clothes, though.
The other main quibble I have is that the thread they used for the embroidery doesn't have quite the give that the mesh has, and so there are some funny puckers in the cup. I really hope this improves with wear and washing, although again, it doesn't really show under clothes. However, this is such a pretty bra that I'd like to swan about the bedroom in it. But not when it's all puckery.
It's the ubiquitous sexy plunge bra - but with better support than most because the fabric is so stable. I've had this bra for a long time (and others in the same style) and it does fill a niche, but it's not the most supportive or best fitting of my bras because there's not a lot of upper cup support and the straps and band are slim. It gives a nice shape and it's comfortable.
Lovely, thank you for that review! I was hoping it was more open on top like the floris, because it is lovely. Not sure I'll try it or just stick w floris which is so perfect for me